7 Things to do this week...
1BRIDGE DRAMA: Bridge Drama group will present its version of Brighton Beach Memoirs in the National Opera House on the following dates: Thursday, January 31; Friday and Saturday, February 1 and 2; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 21, 22 and 23; and Tuesday, February 26. The story is based around Eugene Jerome and his family who are fighting hard times and sometimes each other. The story is set in Brooklyn in 1937 during the depression. In many ways it’s a tale about the gradual loss of innocence. Eugene will take the audience through a series of observations and insights displaying how his family meets life’s challenges with pride, spirit and a brilliant sense of humour. However, the looming spectacle of World War II threatens to destroy the only way of life Eugene has known up to this point. The story was written by Neil Simon and with the award-winning Bridge Drama group renowned for the quality of its productions this could be one of the hit shows of the year. The performances will get under way at 8 p.m. and tickets, priced €15, are available from the box-office on 053-9122144.
2IMBOLC PARADE OF LIGHT: The ArtBank in Bunclody is to revive an ancient tradition on Friday evening at 7 p.m. with a parade of light to celebrate the Imbolc festival. The event aims to celebrate the ‘Celtic Culture of healing’ and will consist of many art forms, music, arts and crafts and much, much more. The idea behind the festival is to combat the grey days and evenings by focusing on a return to the light! The parade will feature works made by local schools and culminates with a huge performance from Clody Community Choir in the square. For further information on this event, contact The ArtBank on 053 9375200 or call into them at 88 Main Street.
3CADO & THE DELTA CATS ‘SATISFY MY SOUL’ EP LAUNCH: Having gained a major following in County Wexford through his portrayal of Buddy Holly in the hit production of ‘Buddy The Musical’, Kildare rock n’ roller Cado will return to Enniscorthy and the IFA Centre this Saturday, February 2, to lauch his long-awaited second EP ‘Satisfy My Soul’. Tickets for the night are €10 and it promises to be a great night of rock n’ roll. The show starts from 8 p.m.
4THE TWO LOVES OF GABRIEL FOLEY: Ballyoughter Drama Group present Jimmy Keary’s hit comedy ‘The Two Loves of Gabriel Foley’ at Camolin Hall, at 8 p.m. nightly, on Friday, February 1; Saturday, February 2; Friday, February 8, and Saturday, February 9. Tickets are €10 for adults and €5 for children. They are available from Jack’s Tavern in Camolin or call Margaret on 086 8531927. Doors will open at 7.30 p.m. each night.
5THE WHISTLING GIRL: Wexford Arts Centre will host vocalist Honor Heffernan and composer Trevor Knight for their musical offering inspired by the words of famous American wit, writer and human rights campaigner Dorothy Parker. The show has been performed in New York, Serbia, Belfast and at the Cork Jazz Festival. The music flows through rock, blues and dark carnavalesque sounds reminiscent of The Doors and reference the electronica of Kraftwerk. The show starts at 8.30 p.m. Tickets are available from Wexford Arts Centre.
6FROCKTAILS AND COCKTAILS BALL: The Frocktails and Cocktails Ball, dedicated to Colin ‘Jango’ Fleming, will take place on Saturday, February 2, from 7.30 p.m. in the Ashdown Park Hotel. Tickets are €50 and a table of 10 is €500. For bookings call Josephine Casey on 086 2249769 or call into the Ashdown Hotel. The ticket will include a ‘Jango’ cocktail on arrival, gin reception sponsored by Enniscorthy’s very own Jackford Gin, four-course meal, entertainment from Theresa and the Stars and a DJ till the early hours of the morning. All are welcome to attend. For more details call Josephine.
7JASON BYRNE: Irish comedy legend Jason Byrne will bring his new show to the National Opera House on Friday, February 1, at 8 p.m. ‘You can come in, but don’t start anything’, is a unique show in that every night Byrne takes his audience on a distinct voyage of discovery following which no adequate description of what just took place can be truly ascertained. Funny in the extreme Byrne never disappoints and this show is going to have the audience in stitches with laughter from start-to-finish. It’s also very likely to be a sell out performance as Byrne is one of Ireland’s most popular and engaging entertainers. Tickets for this must see show are now available from the box-office on 053-9122144.